Robert Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic Fighting To Book World Cup Berth

They are superstar strikers fighting to secure what could be their last chance to play on soccer바카라�s biggest stage. (More Football News)

And one thing바카라�s for sure: there isn바카라�t room for both Robert Lewandowski and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the World Cup in Qatar.

The World Cup playoff final between Poland and Sweden on Tuesday doubles as a head-to-head between two of the leading center forwards of this century.

For the 40-year-old Ibrahimovic, it could even mark the final game of his international career, should Sweden lose in Chorzow. He came out of international retirement in early 2021 with the aim of playing at the European Championship 바카라� which he ultimately missed because of injury 바카라� and then this year바카라�s World Cup.

Surely the 2026 World Cup is beyond even Ibrahimovic, someone who has previously likened himself to Benjamin Button.

As for Lewandowski, he is 33 and scoring as freely as ever for Bayern Munich, one of the best clubs in Europe. Playing at a World Cup in four years바카라� time isn바카라�t beyond the realms of possibility.

The bigger issue is whether Poland will make it there, having only featured in one World Cup since 2006.

So much, then, is on the line for the two players in the game at the Silesian Stadium 바카라� and Ibrahimovic won바카라�t be in the best position to influence it.

Only recently back from an Achilles tendon injury and restricted to three late appearances as a substitute in Serie A games for AC Milan this month, Ibrahimovic isn바카라�t ready to start against Poland.

That was confirmed by Sweden coach Janne Andersson on Monday. What Andersson wasn바카라�t sure about was how many minutes Ibrahimovic could play if he came on as a substitute, given the match could go to extra time.

바카라�It바카라�s a great question,바카라� Andersson said. 바카라�We바카라�ll evaluate that together. He was in full training now and we바카라�ll talk to the medical team to set a plan. It바카라�s partly about how the match will be. It is difficult to predict a match.

바카라�You always have a basic plan, but you have to be flexible. What happens in the match? It is completely impossible to predict everything. Zlatan is a weapon for us, but he cannot play the whole match.바카라�

There were some concerns about Lewandowski바카라�s fitness, too, after he missed a friendly match against Scotland on Thursday. Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said Monday that Lewandowski experienced knee tendon problems for a few days but was now fully fit and has trained since Sunday.

바카라�I have a hard time seeing that he would not play now, considering that he played before the internationals,바카라� Andersson said. 바카라�But we바카라�ll see.바카라�

Definitely missing because of injury for Poland, though, is Lewandowski바카라�s strike partner, Arkadiusz Milik, but Krzysztof Piatek is available despite needing stitches in a leg wound during the Scotland game in Glasgow.

Sweden바카라�s main injury concerns center around midfielder Albin Ekdal and defender Joakim Nilsson, who weren바카라�t in full training on Monday.

Poland advanced to the playoff final courtesy of a bye after its scheduled opponent in the semifinals, Russia, was disqualified following the country바카라�s invasion of Ukraine.

It is Michniewicz바카라�s first competitive game in charge since he replaced Paulo Sousa as coach.

바카라�We began to analyze the Swedes some time ago and then we sped up that work because we learned that will not be playing Russia,바카라� Michniewicz said. 바카라�I know a lot about the Swedes 바카라� maybe even too much because sometimes I wake up in the morning and see the Swedes before my eyes.바카라�